§ 1205 — Rural education advisory committee established

§ 1205. Rural education advisory committee established. 1. Subject to\nthe availability of funds appropriated, allocated or otherwise supplied\nfrom any other public or private source for the purposes of implementing\nthe provisions of this article, a rural education advisory committee is\nhereby established. Such committee shall be comprised of nine members,\nto be appointed as follows: one by the temporary president of the\nsenate, one by the speaker of the assembly, one by the governor, and one\nby the dean of the college of agriculture and life sciences at Cornell\nUniversity. The remaining five members, one of whom shall be a certified\nteacher who has experience teaching in a rural school district, shall be\nappointed by the commissioner. The commissioner, or his or her designee,\nshall serve as chairperson of the committee. Membership on the committee\nshall be:\n (a) reflective of the diversity of the state's rural population and\ngeographic areas, and;\n (b) reflective of the diversity of practical knowledge and interests\nin the broad range of rural educational sectors, including but not\nlimited to, primary, secondary and post-secondary educators and\nadministrators who have experience in a rural school district, community\nhuman service providers, the business community, and the general public.\n 2. The chairperson may invite individuals to assist or to serve as\ntechnical advisors to the committee in the exercise of its powers and\nduties, as provided in this section.\n 3. The terms of office of the appointed members of the committee shall\nbe for four years. Any vacancy occurring in the appointed membership of\nthe committee shall be filled within one year by the same authority\nresponsible for the initial appointment of such member.\n 4. The committee shall meet at least twice yearly, and at such\nadditional times as may be determined by the chairperson.\n 5. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation, but shall\nbe reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the\nperformance of their official duties.\n 6. In the exercise of its powers and duties, the committee shall:\n (a) Work with the center in developing priorities for targeted\nresearch regarding rural education in New York;\n (b) Facilitate the development of policy recommendations which may\nenhance access to, as well as the quality and productivity of,\neducational programs and practices in rural areas;\n (c) Participate in the review and authorization of demonstration\nprojects and the development of alternative models for improved and\npotentially more cost-effective educational activities and programs;\n (d) Promote community and school involvement and collaboration in the\ndevelopment and implementation of policies and activities undertaken\npursuant to this article; and\n (e) Prepare an annual report, as well as special focus reports which\nmay result from specific research and other activities conducted in\naccordance with this article.\n